ITV News

The truth is anyone who challenged his comments would kind of be confirming their own status as an "auto-cutie" - while surely those who feel they make the grade on their talent, not their looks, wouldn't care less about the comments and would probably agree.

Basically it was what he said in his Mirror column today:

"What I said was that there seems to be a lot of young women and handsome young men reading the news, who don't have solid background in journalism

I think it better serves the viewer, the broadcaster and the individual presenter, if they have experience as a reporter".

Al and the audience agreed with him for that on Friday, and he got a round of applause. He did think getting voted 'sexiest newreader' was "ridiculous" as well

The digital tv guides were not right. Katie Derham was not presenting the EN, Geraint was not presenting the LN. News At Ten is right.

Yes, perhaps Mary booked her flights with XL .

Katie presented the Lunchtime News and London Tonight with Alastair today but she is still shown as presenting both the Lunchtime and Evening News for the rest of the week .

Sally Bidduplh (ITV Westcountry) to join the ITV Weekend News team as part of staff changes at ITV News

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/24/itv.tvnews

Nice, I like Lucy Manning. Can't say anything for Sally Biddulph as I've never seen her before but I'm not keen on Chris Ship being promoted to senior political correspondent. He's alright but definitely not brilliant, Alex Forrest is much better IMO.

Sally also works for ITV Thames Valley

Chris Ship is fantastic! Long overdue promotion.

Alex Forrest is also great. If anything, Bradby is the weak link in the team.

Chris Ship its a good reporter, but as SENIOR political correspondent. I am not denying he will be any good but I would have thought, maybe, someone who has been reporting longer. Say, Robert Moore, moving from Europe or Penny Marshall or maybe a return of Harry Smith.

Shame about Libby Wiener sort-of leaving. She was/is a good reporter, but was not used effectively as political correspondent, I think. She would have been better as a foreign reporter. Anyone else remember her as North of England Correspondent?

Does anyone remember her presenting weekend bulletins in the 90's. Truly appalling! I've got a huge problem with her eyebrows, very distracting - they have a life of their own.

AGREED! Tom Blather-by, more like. I've never know anyone take so long saying so little. Perfectly nice to look at, mind you, which is why he probably got the job.
Chris Ship is great, btw.

I know the Lunchtime News is generally considered secondary to the Evening News because of the smaller potential audience but I think the programme is usually very good, and today's was excellent. The pace of the programme was spot-on, with interesting reports and 'two-ways' despite it being a relatively standard news day.

(I just thought it was sufficiently impressive to be worth mentioning ).